Yellow Headed Caracara

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe • November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Headed Caracara
Latin: Milvago chimachima
Other: Southern Crested Caracara • Carrapateiro (Br) • Chimachimá (Es)
Family: Falconidae • Caracaras

The Yellow-headed Caracara can be found throughout much of Central and South America, and is widespread thoughout Brazil. Near Lagoa do Peixe in November it was much less common than the Chimango Caracara and seemed to stay near wooded areas rather than open marshland. It is associated with farmland.

Its distinguishing feature is a dark line running behind the eye. Its body and head is mostly light yellowish brown. Lower areas of underside of wings are barred and there are white panels near the end of wings with dark fingers. Upperside of wings is dark brown with white panels. Tail is lightly barred with dark tip. Immature Yellow-headed Caracaras are more barred on body and neck.

The Brazilian name Carrapateiro is derived from Carrapato, which means tick, as the Yellow-headed Caracara is known to pick ticks off cattle.







Other Brazilian names: caracará-branco, caracaraí, caracaratinga, carapinhé, chimango, gavião-pinhé, papa-bicheira, pinhé, pinhém, chimango, chimango-branco, chimango-carrapateiro and chimango-do-campo.

Other Spanish names: chimachima, chigüare, caricare sabanero, pigua, caracara bayo, chimango and caracara chimachima.